Government cash opens road for new Rochdale bus station

The government has finally given Rochdale the cash it needs to build its new £11.5m Transport Interchange after 18 months of wrangling. Westminster was expected to stump up the bulk of the cash to build the new state-of-the-art terminal off Smith Street in 2010. But following the 2010 general election that funding was put on hold as part of the government’s comprehensive spending review.

The government has finally given Rochdale the cash it needs to build its new £11.5m Transport Interchange after 18 months of wrangling.

Westminster was expected to stump up the bulk of the cash to build the new state-of-the-art terminal off Smith Street in 2010.

But following the 2010 general election that funding was put on hold as part of the government’s comprehensive spending review.

After extensive lobbying and efforts by the council to sweeten the deal, the government finally said it would fund the project before Christmas.

And on Friday, transport minister Norman Baker announced Rochdale would be the first of 20 schemes to receive the funding it needs.

It means work on the new Interchange, which will include a bus station, tram stop and taxi rank, can begin in April and completed in June 2013.

Councillor Peter Williams, Rochdale council’s cabinet member for corporate services and economic affairs, said the work would kick-start the £250m regeneration of the eastern side of the town centre.

He said: "This is great news both for residents and for the town itself.

"Passengers will get a much needed, modern new bus interchange and it’s the catalyst we need to move ahead with our town transformation programme with confidence.

"The council has committed over £3m to the interchange which, together with the government and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) contributions, represents major capital resources at a time of austerity."

The government will give Rochdale £7m to fund the Transport Interchange, TfGM will pay £1.5m and the council will pay the remaining £3m.

The work will also mean the existing bus station can be demolished to make way for a new town centre east shopping development.

Transport minister Norman Baker said the town needed a new transport hub. He said: "I am in no doubt that this new station will encourage more people to travel by bus in and around Rochdale which is why we’re putting nearly £7m into this impressive scheme which will support growth and cut carbon.

"Having visited the bus station, it was clear to me that action had to be taken.

"The new station will be a significant improvement on the current facilities - the dark and dingy atmosphere is not the welcome you want when you arrive into town - and will also allow redevelopment of the existing site which will bring some 1,500 new jobs into the town."

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk added: "This is fantastic news and a great example of people working together in a cross-party way for the good of Rochdale. Both myself and Councillor Ashley Dearnley went to see Transport Minister Norman Baker to make the case for Rochdale and we're really pleased that he's taken our arguments on board to provide government funding for the scheme."